I chose to further explore the relationship between the Blues and Hoodoo. I found this great website that shows how interdependent the two arts are, as well as interweaving biographies of Hoodoo Doctors, and incorporating spells. For example, there's a link for "Hot Foot Powder." When you click on it, it gives a rundown of the spell, its purpose, how its performed, etc. and then provides lyrics for a blues song that talks about it. It's pretty cool and quite informative. Check it out! www.luckymojo.com/blues
For my “connection” assignment this week, I decided to explore further into the world of Hoodoo, Voodoo, and Herb and Roots magic. I found it quite interesting, but also sad, how commercialized these practices have become. For one website, the actual URL says “hoodoo” but all the information on the page says Voodoo (No doubt for the benefit of us silly white folks). I do not think this is TOO far away from the way that Zora discussed it in Mules and Men, though, because it seemed to me even in that context that the hoodoo doctor was just in it for the money, not for the actual benefit of the customers. Now, no matter if you want free money, a love spell, or to put a curse on someone, they can give you the good stuff (Sorry, no COD). It is almost as if I can hear, “HI! BILLY MAYES HERE FOR VOODOO MAGIC! DO YOU HAVE AN IRRITATING NEIGHBOR YOU JUST CAN’T GET RID OF? TRY VOODOO MAGIC! FOR ONLY 2 EASY PAYMENTS OF JUST $19.95! BUT THAT’S NOT ALL! THE FIRST 50 TO BUY VOODOO MAGIC WILL ALSO GET ANCIENT ROOTS AND HERBS THROWN IN FOR FREE! (Just pay separate S&H). “ Anyway, I know we are not supposed to analyze what we find, I just think this world is silly in the way that we always have to take everything ancient and sacred and turn it around as a way to get money from people (Which always confused me why people would SPEND money as a way to GET FREE MONEY?! Here’s an idea… just keep the money you already have! Fool proof!) Alright, time for the websites, enjoy! Oh, wait, one more thing…
“BIG WARNING AND DISCLAIMER
African Ritual Voodoo Magic Powers items are not child’s play. They are extremely STRONG,POWERFUL,AND MAY BE DANGEROUS AND HARMFUL IF USED TO HARM THE INNOCENT OR FOR ANY NEGATIVE INTENTIONS .
WE THEREFORE DISSOCIATE OURSELVES FROM ANY FORM OF MIS-USE,CARELESSNESS AND MISTAKE OF THE USE ON THE PART OF THE USERS”
“Welcome to the most powerful voodoo love spells on the internet! Voodoo is known to be the best magick of all psychic arts! Now you can ask a real voodoo spell caster to cast love spells just for you! Experience the amazing and effective power of Voodoo, just like dozens of happy clients did before you.” **http://www.haitianvoodoospells.com/spells.html**
White: In the hoodoo tradition, white candles represent purity, vibration, faith, goodness,and balance.
Yellow: This color is used for attraction, instilling confidence, unhexing, uncrossing, clarity of thought, clairvoyance and premonitions.
Orange: The color orange is associated with encouragement, building concentration, attracting positive energy, adaptability and stimulation.
Red: Because it is the color of blood, red candles symbolize vitality, good health and strength. It also symbolizes vigor, passion, love, and sexuality.
Pink: This color is used to denote love (usually more platonic), friendship, overcoming evil, and morality.
Purple: Purple is a particularly high vibration color used for meditation, spirit work, and powerful healing.
Blue: This color is often used with purple for spiritual strength, complex healing, and spirit work. It also symbolizes peace, clairvoyance and premonitions.
Green: Green is used for money, luck, fertility, growth, good crops and harvest, regeneration and healing.
Brown: The color brown is associated with clearing up uncertainty and doubt.
Wicca Spells, Voodoo, Hoodoo, Magick, Incense and Oils for Witches, Pagans & Faeries http://www.herbalbrews.com/
Some music and videos with Hoodoo-Voodoo:HOODOO MAN BLUES (1953) by Junior Wells Lord, I wonder what's has got the matter Wit' time, you know, wit' time It seems like the hours, oh, everything done changed But I hold up my hand, I'm just tryin' t'make her understand Lord, you know, everybody tells Little Junior That somebody done hoodooed the hoodoo man. Now, I'm goin' down to Louisiano an' get me a mojo hand My little woman she done quit me for some other man But I hold up my hand, I'm tryin' to make her understand Lord, you know, everybody they tells me, That somebody done hoodooed the hoodoo man (Spoken) Well that's what I'm talkin' -- Now I buzzed your bell this morning You had your elevator running slow I buzzed your bell, little woman, to take me on the third floor But I hold up my hand, I'm just trying make you understand Lahw, you know, ever'vody tells Li'l Junior, "Somebody hoodooed the hoodoo man."
Albert Collins : Black Cat Bone:
Documentary from National Geographic about Origins of Voodoo:
(RE) POSSESSED exhibit at Ohio State University & King Arts Complex. The dolls are inspired by the "rural female natural healers" Xenba Blogspot
"This doll is inspired by the mojo healing workers in the community. They work mostly by spoken words, prayers, conversations, stories, historical accounts and inspiring others by living the example."
"The Conjure Woman Doll, rural healing artist, master of the art of conjuring thing and situations."
"The Hoodoo Woman Doll, the roots worker, healing artist, master of herbs, potions, lotions and enchantress."
Some artwork depicting Marie Laveau:
When I was nearing the end of Mules and Men, one comment Hurston made about hoodoo particularly stood out to me:
“Let me state here that most of his clients (Dr. Jenkins) are white and upper-class people at that.”
I just thought it really interesting that during that time of segregation and black oppression, the white and black man could be united in this one thing. It seems that people, regardless of race, turn to hoodoo to help them with problems that they cannot solve themselves or that the law or society cannot solve for them. Many of the examples Hurston discusses in her book are related to infidelity issues or being cheated or wronged in some way and then out of that arises a desire to make the situation “equal” so to speak. Imagine that. A white person feels like he’s been cheated or robbed by someone and he pays a black person to rectify the situation. That the white man would turn to the black man for help at all is unexpected, but that they would admit to their supposed inferiors their own personal shortcomings or potentially embarrassing problems I found to be very surprising. It seems hoodoo was a way for African-Americans to exercise some power in society while also maintaining the ties to their own roots. I was looking online for some information on hoodoo, and I found this page that gave a lot of interesting information. It provided the possible etymology on the word and history about the practice. Some of the information showed how hoodoo drew from different cultures, not just exclusively African culture. Here is the link so you guys can check it out. http://www.luckymojo.com/hoodoohistory.html If anything, it serves the purpose of explaining the basics of the practice to people who don’t know anything about it. A “Hoodoo for Dummies” so to speak.
Here is a link to someone's website on hoodoo I like the part about foot track magic. We saw some of it in Huck Finn. A lot of the things on this page we saw in Hurston and, putting powder around the door, I saw in some Blues songs. Enjoy perusing.
www.luckymojo.com/blues
For my “connection” assignment this week, I decided to explore further into the world of Hoodoo, Voodoo, and Herb and Roots magic. I found it quite interesting, but also sad, how commercialized these practices have become. For one website, the actual URL says “hoodoo” but all the information on the page says Voodoo (No doubt for the benefit of us silly white folks). I do not think this is TOO far away from the way that Zora discussed it in Mules and Men, though, because it seemed to me even in that context that the hoodoo doctor was just in it for the money, not for the actual benefit of the customers. Now, no matter if you want free money, a love spell, or to put a curse on someone, they can give you the good stuff (Sorry, no COD). It is almost as if I can hear, “HI! BILLY MAYES HERE FOR VOODOO MAGIC! DO YOU HAVE AN IRRITATING NEIGHBOR YOU JUST CAN’T GET RID OF? TRY VOODOO MAGIC! FOR ONLY 2 EASY PAYMENTS OF JUST $19.95! BUT THAT’S NOT ALL! THE FIRST 50 TO BUY VOODOO MAGIC WILL ALSO GET ANCIENT ROOTS AND HERBS THROWN IN FOR FREE! (Just pay separate S&H). “ Anyway, I know we are not supposed to analyze what we find, I just think this world is silly in the way that we always have to take everything ancient and sacred and turn it around as a way to get money from people (Which always confused me why people would SPEND money as a way to GET FREE MONEY?! Here’s an idea… just keep the money you already have! Fool proof!) Alright, time for the websites, enjoy! Oh, wait, one more thing…
“BIG WARNING AND DISCLAIMER
African Ritual Voodoo Magic Powers items are not child’s play. They are extremely STRONG,POWERFUL,AND MAY BE DANGEROUS AND HARMFUL IF USED TO HARM THE INNOCENT OR FOR ANY NEGATIVE INTENTIONS .
WE THEREFORE DISSOCIATE OURSELVES FROM ANY FORM OF MIS-USE,CARELESSNESS AND MISTAKE OF THE USE ON THE PART OF THE USERS”
Voodoo/Hoodoo Magic Websites
Read more: http://magick-voodoo.suite101.com/article.cfm/hoodoo_and_candle_magic#ixzz0ThrLNtSV
Hoodoo Herb Magic
Some music and videos with Hoodoo-Voodoo: HOODOO MAN BLUES (1953) by Junior Wells Lord, I wonder what's has got the matter Wit' time, you know, wit' time It seems like the hours, oh, everything done changed But I hold up my hand, I'm just tryin' t'make her understand Lord, you know, everybody tells Little Junior That somebody done hoodooed the hoodoo man. Now, I'm goin' down to Louisiano an' get me a mojo hand My little woman she done quit me for some other man But I hold up my hand, I'm tryin' to make her understand Lord, you know, everybody they tells me, That somebody done hoodooed the hoodoo man (Spoken) Well that's what I'm talkin' -- Now I buzzed your bell this morning You had your elevator running slow I buzzed your bell, little woman, to take me on the third floor But I hold up my hand, I'm just trying make you understand Lahw, you know, ever'vody tells Li'l Junior, "Somebody hoodooed the hoodoo man."
Albert Collins : Black Cat Bone:
Documentary from National Geographic about Origins of Voodoo:
Interesting website here:
Info about the Black Cat Bone, and some products to buy relating to the topic.
(RE) POSSESSED exhibit at Ohio State University & King Arts Complex. The dolls are inspired by the "rural female natural healers" Xenba Blogspot
"This doll is inspired by the mojo healing workers in the community. They work mostly by spoken words, prayers, conversations, stories, historical accounts and inspiring others by living the example."
"The Conjure Woman Doll, rural healing artist, master of the art of conjuring thing and situations."
"The Hoodoo Woman Doll, the roots worker, healing artist, master of herbs, potions, lotions and enchantress."
Some artwork depicting Marie Laveau:
When I was nearing the end of Mules and Men, one comment Hurston made about hoodoo particularly stood out to me:
“Let me state here that most of his clients (Dr. Jenkins) are white and upper-class people at that.”
I just thought it really interesting that during that time of segregation and black oppression, the white and black man could be united in this one thing. It seems that people, regardless of race, turn to hoodoo to help them with problems that they cannot solve themselves or that the law or society cannot solve for them. Many of the examples Hurston discusses in her book are related to infidelity issues or being cheated or wronged in some way and then out of that arises a desire to make the situation “equal” so to speak. Imagine that. A white person feels like he’s been cheated or robbed by someone and he pays a black person to rectify the situation. That the white man would turn to the black man for help at all is unexpected, but that they would admit to their supposed inferiors their own personal shortcomings or potentially embarrassing problems I found to be very surprising. It seems hoodoo was a way for African-Americans to exercise some power in society while also maintaining the ties to their own roots. I was looking online for some information on hoodoo, and I found this page that gave a lot of interesting information. It provided the possible etymology on the word and history about the practice. Some of the information showed how hoodoo drew from different cultures, not just exclusively African culture. Here is the link so you guys can check it out. http://www.luckymojo.com/hoodoohistory.html
If anything, it serves the purpose of explaining the basics of the practice to people who don’t know anything about it. A “Hoodoo for Dummies” so to speak.
Here is a link to someone's website on hoodoo I like the part about foot track magic. We saw some of it in Huck Finn. A lot of the things on this page we saw in Hurston and, putting powder around the door, I saw in some Blues songs. Enjoy perusing.
http://www.luckymojo.com/hoodoohistory.html
http://www.luckymojo.com/hoodoohistory.html